May 16, 2024 (MANAMA) – The Arab League concluded its summit in Manama, Bahrain, on Thursday with a final statement expressing full solidarity with Sudan and affirming support for the country’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. The League emphasized “The importance of maintaining Sudanese state institutions, particularly the armed forces”. Arab leaders urged all parties to adhere to the Jeddah Declaration, a Saudi Arabia and US-mediated agreement signed in May 2023. The Declaration calls for a ceasefire, the opening of humanitarian aid routes, and civilian protection. The statement encouraged the Sudanese government and the RSF to engage seriously with crisis resolution initiatives, including the Jeddah platform and neighbouring countries. These efforts aim to end the conflict and restore stability in Sudan. A leaked draft of the final statement reportedly included a call to prevent external interference that could prolong the crisis and threaten regional peace. However, this was omitted from...

Washington D.C. — The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions on two Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commanders, Ali Yagoub Jibril and Osman Mohamed Hamid, due to their leading roles in RSF attacks on North Darfur and elsewhere in Sudan. According to a statement issued yesterday by the US Department of the Treasury, Yagoub played an important role in the RSF attacks in North Darfur. He is currently leading RSF troops around El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, and the last Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) stronghold in the region. OFAC considers Yagoub a major perpetrator of actions or policies that threaten peace, security, and stability in Sudan. The second target, Osman Mohamed (known as Osman Operations), is a major general in the RSF and has made statements on behalf of the paramilitary group after significant victories. He plays an important role in operational...

May 15, 2024 (KAMPALA) – In a show of unity, 34 youth and women’s groups, alongside resistance committees, signed a joint declaration in Kampala, Uganda, on Wednesday, pledging to work together to end Sudan’s ongoing conflict. This strategic workshop aimed to establish a network of organizations within and outside Sudan to exert pressure on warring parties to seek a peaceful resolution. “We, the undersigned 34 youth and women’s organizations and resistance committees, are committed to joint action,” declared Sawsan Jumaa, a representative of the youth organizations, at the workshop’s closing press conference. The declaration outlines key objectives, including advocating for their inclusion in national decision-making, policy formulation, and implementation processes. In addition, they agreed on the need to promote youth engagement with stakeholders and decision-makers to achieve lasting peace and establish safe channels for humanitarian aid delivery. Jumaa further underscored the importance of gender-sensitive participation and recognizing Sudan’s diverse cultural...

Addis Abeba — Former Ethiopian peacekeepers of Tigrayan origin, who were stationed in the Abyei region bordering Sudan and South Sudan, are currently facing heightened security concerns amidst the escalating conflict in Sudan. Seeking asylum in Sudan two years ago amidst the Tigray war, these ex-peacekeepers now face escalating risks as recent clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have intensified. Speaking to Addis Standard, one former peacekeeper expressed mounting tensions and anxieties among their ranks, particularly following recent statements by the RSF alleging the involvement of “TPLF forces” in the Sudan conflict. In 2022, 528 Ethiopian troops hailing from the Tigray region and serving as peacekeepers within the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) sought political asylum in Sudan. Their asylum request coincided with the peak of the Tigray war and reports of the detention of ethnic Tigrayan military personnel in Ethiopia....

May 15, 2024 (EL FASHER) – A deadly battle for control of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, has entered its fourth day, raising fears of a full-blown war. The clashes between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and a combined force of the Sudanese army and allied armed movements have resulted in a growing number of civilian casualties. The RSF launched a large-scale offensive, deploying thousands of fighters from across Darfur in an attempt to capture El Fasher. The Sudanese army and its allies responded by reinforcing their presence within the city. Eyewitnesses reported to “Sudan Tribune” that the RSF bombarded densely populated areas in the south and west of the city with artillery fire, causing significant civilian casualties and widespread destruction of homes. Conflicting Narratives: A military official from the joint forces claimed they repelled a “treacherous attack” by the RSF, inflicting heavy losses on them and capturing...

United Nations — The World Food Program warned Wednesday that the threat of famine is growing for 5 million Sudanese in parts of the country affected by war. “Commitments made by all parties to facilitate humanitarian access urgently need to be translated into realities on the ground,” Carl Skau, WFP’s deputy executive director, said in a statement. Skau just returned from a mission to Sudan this week. He said the situation is “desperate and quickly deteriorating.” “Only a few weeks remain to stock up food supplies in parts of Darfur and Kordofan before the rainy season starts and many roads become impassable,” he said. “Farmers also need to safely reach their farmlands to plant ahead of the rains.” The rainy season in Sudan is from June through July. In spite of fighting, border closures, checkpoints and other challenges, WFP says it is currently reaching some 2.5 million Sudanese with assistance....

May 15, 2024 (JUBA) – Talks between the Sudanese government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-North) scheduled for Wednesday in Juba have been postponed. The delay aims to allow technical committees additional time for consultations and preparations. The negotiations, brokered by South Sudan, aim to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to war-torn regions like South Kordofan and Blue Nile. The postponement follows an agreement between both sides on May 6th to begin these talks. Sources familiar with the situation told Sudan Tribune on Tuesday that the delay stems from the need for further technical discussions and the absence of a key government negotiator, Lieutenant General Shams al-Din Kabbashi. However, the sources expect negotiations to start within the next 24 hours. Humanitarian talks pave the way for potential political negotiations In a related development, Sudanese Defence Minister Yasir Ibrahim met with the SPLM-North delegation in Juba, representing the Two...

New York / El Fasher — US Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, has warned that “a large-scale massacre” is imminent in El Fasher, capital of North Darfur. In a post on her X account, she said: “There will be direct and immediate consequences for those responsible for an offensive on El Fasher.” Urging the belligerents to return to the negotiating table and protect civilians at all costs, she added that the resolution of this conflict is not on the battlefield, and that both sides claim to liberate the country while destroying it instead. The ambassador remarks that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) lift its siege of the city, and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) to protect critical infrastructure. This follows the latest skirmishes on El Fasher between the RSF and the city’s defenders, the joint force of Darfur rebel groups and SAF, with the city already facing 4...

May 14, 2024 (EL FASHER)  – The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have ramped up their attacks on El Fasher, unleashing a relentless barrage of artillery and rockets on densely populated western and southern districts. This escalation has resulted in a mounting civilian death toll. For the past three days, El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, has witnessed a dramatic rise in the intensity of clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and allied armed movements on one side and the RSF on the other. The fierce fighting has caused numerous deaths and injuries among civilians caught in the crossfire. Despite international and regional warnings urging the RSF to halt their assault on El Fasher, a city already reeling from war casualties, the paramilitary group persists in its offensive. This aggression appears to be part of a broader campaign to seize control of the entire Darfur region following their capture...

The Secretary-General is gravely concerned by the outbreak of fighting in El Fasher, which puts over 800,000 civilians at risk. He is alarmed by reports of the use of heavy weaponry in densely populated areas, resulting in dozens of civilian casualties, significant displacement and the destruction of civilian infrastructure. He recalls that civilians in the area are already facing a looming famine and the consequences of over a year of war. The Secretary-General reminds all parties of their obligation under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and calls on them to allow the civilian population to move to safer areas. He also requests that all parties facilitate safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to all civilians in need in El Fasher, across Darfur and the Sudan. Intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population and willfully impeding humanitarian relief for civilians in need may constitute war crimes. The Secretary-General urges the...